Monday, February 20, 2012

Fordham Cheers on New Cardinal

Timothy M. Dolan was elevated to cardinal on Saturday, Feb. 18, along with 21 other priests in a ceremony at the Vatican. Cardinal Dolan was named Archbishop of New York by Pope Benedict XVI on February 23, 2009. Prior to being named archbishop of New York, he had served as archbishop of Milwaukee since June 25, 2002.

Several members of the University community were on hand for the Cardinal’s elevation, including trustees, faculty and administrators.

Monsignor Joseph G. Quinn, vice president for University mission and ministry, and Patrick J. Ryan, S.J., the Laurence J. McGinley, S.J. Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham, both in Rome for Cardinal Dolan’s elevation, and were an on-air expert for WABC and other news outlets.(L to R) Henry Schwalbenbeg, Ph. D., director of Fordham’s graduate program in International Political Economy and Development; the newly-elevated Timothy Cardinal Dolan; and Alma Schwalbenberg (GSAS ’93)

In New York, Terrence Tilley, Ph.D., the Avery Cardinal Dulles Professor of Theology and chair of the Department of Theology at Fordham, said “[Cardinal Dolan] smiles, he laughs, he has a good time. He will present being a Catholic as being simply joyous. As someone who is a sinner who is a redeemed sinner, like a recovering alcoholic who is enjoying the new status.”

Maureen A. Tilley, Ph.D., professor of theology at Fordham, said the Cardinal’s impact could be considerable. “Between his personality and his record, he has the potential…and I say the potential, to be the most influential Cardinal from New York since Cardinal Spellman.”